We should cherish old age and enjoy it. It is full of pleasure if you know how to use it. Fruit tastes most delicious just when its season is ending.—Seneca, circa 4 BC to AD 65
At a recent meeting of the Pan-Pacific Surgical Society, Roger Crumley, MD, introduced a slide (Table 1) depicting the long professional lives of otolaryngologists. It demonstrates that otolaryngologists may enjoy the longest period of professional productivity of specialists recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties. Nine nonagenarians responded to our survey, affirming otolaryngologists' longevity. One currently is in part-time practice at 94 years and 2 retired last year at 91 years. Recent conversations with many of our colleagues, however, suggested to us that more otolaryngologists were considering shorter, not longer, periods of medical practice.
Table appears in full text version.
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SURVEY QUESTIONS
WHAT IS YOUR AGE?ARE YOU RETIRED?
IF RETIRED, AT WHAT AGE AND WHAT WAS THE MAJOR FACTOR IN YOUR DECISION ?
AT WHAT AGE DID YOU STOP OPERATING AND WHY?
AT WHAT AGE DID YOU NOTICE YOUR SURGICAL SKILLS AFFECTED AND HOW?
DO YOU THINK AGE SHOULD BE THE SOLE FACTOR IN DETERMINING COMPETENCY IN SURGICAL/OFFICE PRACTICE?
DO YOU PERCEIVE TOO MANY, TOO FEW, OR THE RIGHT NUMBER OF SPECIALISTS IN OUR FIELD?
WHAT DID YOU DO OR SHOULD YOU HAVE DONE IN PREPARATION FOR RETIREMENT?
COMMENT
RECOMMENDATIONS
PLAN AHEAD
CONTINUE TO SERVE IN SOME CAPACITY
MAINTAIN YOUR BRAIN
